Exercise and weight reduction device

ABSTRACT

Two elliptical channels which have congruent major axes are utilized as tracks. The channels are integrally molded in a base which supports upright members which terminate in hand grips. Alternatively, the upright members may be attached to the ceiling. Set within and constrained to move respectively inside of each of the channels is a skate which engages the bottom of the channel through an integrally depending vertical connecting member which terminates in a spherical ball bearing. A user places his feet on the skates and, while grasping the hand grips, moves his feet in the elliptical paths defined by the tracks. Such use exercises the entire body with particular emphasis on the upper thighs and hips.

United States Patent [191 Jorwa EXERCISE AND WEIGHT REDUCTION DEVICEInventor: Mildred M. Jorwa, 71 Lincoln Ave.,

Fairlawn, NJ. 07410 Filed: Aug. 13, 1973 Appl. No.: 388,119

US. Cl. 272/57 R, 104/139 Int. Cl A63b 23/04 Field of Search 104/53, 62,144, 139;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Anton O. OechsleAssistant Examiner loseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mel K.Silverman 5 7] ABSTRACT Two elliptical channels which have congruentmajor axes are utilized as tracks. The channels are integrally molded ina base which supports upright members which terminate in hand grips.Alternatively, the upright members may be attached to the ceiling. Setwithin and constrained to move respectively inside of each of thechannels is a skate which engages the bottom of the channel through anintegrally depending vertical connecting member which terminates in aspherical ball bearing. A user places his feet on the skates and, whilegrasping the hand grips, moves his feet in the elliptical paths definedby the tracks. Such use exercises the entire body with particularemphasis on the upper thighs and hips.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDm 14 m4 SHEET? 0F 2 F/GI6 BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an exercising device, and inparticular relates to that type of device by which a person can exercisethe muscles of the thighs and lower torso.

Exercising devices known for exercising said areas of the body havegenerally been limited to structures which provide a rotational movementof one plate or disc relative to another plate in a manner not unlike asimple turntable. However, it has been found that such types ofturntable exercising devices are of limited value since, in actualoperation all of the twisting and stretching of the muscles takes placein the vicinity of the waist, and there is little if any envigoration ofthe thighs and lower torso.

Attempts at improving such prior art devices have been made through theaddition of friction-producing elements between the top and bottomplates, thereby causing an increase in the amount of physical exertionrequired by the person using the device. However, these improvementshave not permitted an increase in the number of muscles which are infact exercised through the use of such a device.

Thus, there exists a need for a more versatile torso and leg exerciserthat will permit one to exercise the leg muscles, as well as the musclesin the vicinity of the waist and hips.

One effort at meeting the above-illustrated need appears in the patentof W. F. Larson (US. Pat. No. 3,612,519). This device, while useful inthe exercise of the thigh and leg muscles is not intended, nor is itparticularly adapted, to use by women desiring to exercise their waistand hips in order to improve their figures. Accordingly, the presentinvention, while not necessarily so limited in scope, is intended foruse by women wishing to firm-up specific areas of their anatomy.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION It is a purpose of the present invention toprovide a new, improved and more versatile device for exercising thewaist, hips and thighs.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pair ofelliptical channels having a common intersecting area. Each of saidchannels possesses a uniform cross-section, configured in the nature ofan inverted pear. Disposed in a moveable fashion within each of saidchannels is a pair of adjustable skates." Affixed along the outer edgeof one side of the present structure, and parallel to the major axes ofsaid channels is a grip handle. The grip handle may, in the alternative,be secured to a ceiling.

The desired exercising motion is obtained when a user places and secureshis shoes within the adjustable skates. While holding the handle grip, auser rotates his feet on the skates within the two elliptical channels,thereby obtaining an exercising motion of the hips and waist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of thepresent exercising means.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3a is a front plan view of the grip handles, taken along the line3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3b is an alternative embodiment of the grip handles, otherwisesimilar to the view of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present inventionas seen in actual use.

FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, of a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the skate and runnerelements of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the skate andrunner elements.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the skate andrunner elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Shown in FIG. 1 is a base 10 whichincludes therein a pair of channels 12 and 14. Channel 12 is identicalin dimension to channel 14, but is displaced to the left therefrom. Saidchannels intersect at points 16 and 18. The cross-sectionalconfiguration of the channels may be observed with reference to FIG. 2.Within said figure it may be seen that channel 12 exhibits anessentially circular cross-section in communication with an entry area20. Set within said channel is a skate 22, a

vertical connecting member 24, a ball-bearing 26 and a bearing enclosure28 which integrally depends from member 24 and surrounds one hemisphereof the bearing 26 which turns freely within the enclosure 28.

Turning now to channel 14, it may be seen that said channel comprises acircular cross-section having a smaller diameter than that of channel12. Further, the communication to said circular cross-section is in thenature of a passageway 30. Channel 14 is equipped with the samecombination of a skate 22', a vertical connecting member 24', a bearing26', and a hemispherical enelosingelement 28'.

The purpose of the differing cross-sectional configurations of thechannels 12 and 14 is to assure that when the skates 22 and 22' crossthe points of intersection l6 and 18 of the channels 12 and 14, thebearing 26 and 26 will stay within their respective channels. I

Referring again to FIG. 1, it is to be noted that channel 12 comprises afirst ellipse and channel 14 comprises a second ellipse, displaced alongtheir major axes a distance 32 from each other.

The skate 22 travels exclusively within channel 12, while the skate 22travels exclusively within channel 14. This makes it possible for theuser to experience a continuous rotational motion of the legs, thighsand hips.

In use, one first straps his feet or shoes into the skates 22 and 22'and then grips the two support handles 34 and 36. The springs 38 and 40enable the user to stretch and pull in accordance with his motionswithin the channels.

FIG. 31) illustrates a second embodiment of the bandles wherein elasticstraps 42 are utilized as a substitute for the springs 38 and 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it may be seen that the handles 34', andsupports 38, may be affixed to either the base 10 or to a ceiling 44. Agreater exercising of the upper portions of the body is obtained in thelatter embodiment.

Shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are alternative types of bearings 26 that maybe utilized within said channels 12 and I4.

The base 10 may be molded of any of a variety of materials, such as aheavy durable plastic or cast iron.

lt is also to be noted that the channel and bearing configuration shownin FIG. 2 is to be taken as merely representative of the various meanswhich might be employed to guide the skates 22 and 22' within theirrespective channels.

Also, it is to be noted that the handles shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4 and 5could be easily replaced by a single handle which might, for certainpersons, represent a more suitable means of using the exercising device.

It is thus seen that the objects enumerated in the Summary of theInvention have been efficiently attained by the above-describedembodiments of the present invention. While there have been herein shownand described certain embodiments of the invention, it will beunderstood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as hereinspecifically illustrated and described, and that in said embodmentscertain changes in the detail of construction, and in the form andarrangement of the parts, may be made without departing form theunderlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, useful, andnon-obvious, and accordingly secure by letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. An exercising device, comprising:

a. a base;

b. a first elliptical channel formed within said base;

c. a second elliptical channel formed within said base; said secondchannel having essentially identical dimensions to said first channel,said second channel disposed along the major axis of said first channel,but displaced from the minor axis of said first channel, wherein saidfirst and second channels intersect at points symmetrically andoppositely disposed with respect to the major axes of said channels;

d. a first skate slidably secured within said first channel;

axes of said channels are respectively displaced at a distance equal toabout one-third of the length of either major axis.

3. A exercising device, comprising:

a. a base; 1

b. a first elliptical channel formed within said base;

c. a second elliptical channel formed within said base, said secondchannel having essentially identical dimensions to said first channel,said second 7 channel disposed along the major axis of said firstchannel, but displaced from the minor axis of said first channel,wherein said first and second channels intersect at points symmetricallyand oppositely disposed with respect to the major axes of said channels;

d. a first skate slidably secured within said first channel;

e. a second skate slidably secured within said second channel; and

f. a gripping means for holding by the hands of a user, said grippingmeans secured to an area above the head of the user,

whereby the user may strap his feet into said skates and, while graspingsaid gripping means, may move his feet in a manner which will effecutatean exercising of the waist, hips and thighs.

4. The device as recited in claim 3 in which the minor axes of saidchannels are respectively displaced at a distance equal to aboutone-third of the length of either major axis.

1. An exercising device, comprising: a. a base; b. a first ellipticalchannel formed within said base; c. a second elliptical channel formedwithin said base; said second channel having essentially identicaldimensions to said first channel, said second channel disposed along themajor axis of said first channel, but displaced from the minor axis ofsaid first channel, wherein said first and second channels intersect atpoints symmetrically and oppositely disposed with respect to the majoraxes of said channels; d. a first skate slidably secured within saidfirst channel; e. a second skate slidably secured within said secondchannel; and f. a gripping means for holding by the hands of a user,said gripping means secured to said base, whereby the user may strap hisfeet into said skates and, while grasping said gripping means, may movehis feet in a manner which will effectuate an exercising of the waist,hips and thighs.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1 in which the minoraxes of said channels are respectively displaced at a distance equal toabout one-third of the length of either major axis.
 3. A exercisingdevice, comprising: a. a base; b. a first elliptical channel formedwithin said base; c. a second elliptical channel formed within saidbase, said second channel having essentially identical dimensions tosaid first channel, said second channel disposed along the major axis ofsaid first channel, but displaced from the minor axis of said firstchannel, wherein said first and second channels intersect at pointssymmetrically and oppositely disposed with respect to the major axes ofsaid channels; d. a first skate slidably secured within said firstchannel; e. a second skate slidably secured within said second channel;and f. a gripping means for holding by the hands of a user, saidgripping means secured to an area above the head of the user, wherebythe user may strap his feet into said skates and, while grasping saidgripping means, may move his feet in a manner which will effecutate anexercising of the waist, hips and thighs.
 4. The device as recited inclaim 3 in which the minor axes of said channels are respectivelydisplaced at a distance equal to about one-third of the length of eithermajor axis.